Playful or malicious mischief; wicked or evil behavior, often with an element of dark humor or daring.
From Middle English 'devilrie,' borrowed from Old French 'diablerie' (meaning devilish tricks). The root traces to 'diable' (devil) with the -erie suffix indicating a collection of behaviors or practices.
Medieval writers used 'devilry' to describe both actual wickedness and playful pranks—the word's flexibility shows how cultures have always struggled to distinguish between genuine evil and harmless mischief.
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